Indiana State Police

The post WW II years saw an economic boost in the United States. Factories were
producing and the automobile industry was booming. This economic progress caused
a need for larger and heavier trucks to haul our nation’s products. Prior to 1950
Indiana police officers had the authority to enforce the rules of the road on all
vehicles including big trucks. However, there was little else that could be done
to regulate what was being transported to and from Indiana on commercial vehicles.

In 1951 the Indiana Legislature approved the Indiana State Police to hire 25 troopers
specifically to enforce laws that regulate height, weight, length, and width on
commercial vehicles traveling Hoosier roadways. Unfortunately, the many other duties
required of the state police prohibited the strict enforcement of these laws and
regulations. Those troopers specifically hired for truck enforcement often found
themselves busy responding to crashes and other calls that took priority over the
enforcement of truck laws.

In the early 1950’s, through the Public Service Commission and state highway funds,
enough revenue was generated to hire civilians to assist state troopers with truck
enforcement duties. In August, 1953 the Indiana State Police hired 22 civilian weigh
clerks to replace the original 25 troopers assigned to truck enforcement duties.
Police officers assigned to the Public Service Commission detail were assigned to
supervise the weigh clerks at permanent scale locations. Four additional officers
were then assigned as field supervisors in the truck weigh detail. The name given
to the newly created detail was Motor Carrier Inspection.

In those early years the weigh clerks had no law enforcement authority. They were
civilian employees who were assigned to work with troopers. They operated the portable
scales, manned the permanent scale facilities, and would do the physical inspections
of the trucks which often involved crawling under them as well as other duties.
The weigh clerks filled out all the reports and arrest ticket information when necessary.
The trooper then checked the reports and tickets for accuracy, signed, and then
filed them.

As the truck weigh detail began to grow, it expanded into a “division” and included
a division commander, three section commanders, and 22 specialists assigned to 19
districts along with additional support personnel.

It wasn’t until 1952 the first permanent weigh stations were built. They were small
8x10 buildings located on what was then considered primary roads, but by today’s
standards, would be considered secondary roads. The buildings were heated with kerosene
heaters and had no air-conditioning. A platform scale was installed and worked similar
to a bathroom scale. As a truck would cross the scale, one axle at a time was weighed
not only to determine the weight on each axle but the sum of these weights equaled
the gross weight of the vehicle. These scales stayed in use for many years when
the last one, located on U.S. 6 in northern Indiana, finally closed in October of
1997.

Motor Carrier Inspection operated in this manner for over 20 years when around 1975
their titles were changed from weigh clerk to “weigh master” but they still had
no law enforcement authority. According to Larry Andress, retired ISP Motor Carrier
Inspector, that same year the legislature sent out questionnaires to all weigh masters
to determine if they could perform their duties without the constant supervision
of a trooper. Andress went on to say this was not viewed favorably by the Indiana
State Police command staff. In fact, he said, “We were all told when we were finished
with the questionnaire, we were to turn it into the post and it would be forwarded
for us. Myself and Dale Horine told our superior we had already mailed ours in.”
According to Andress, only those two questionnaires made it to the legislature.
Despite the apparent lack of response to the questionnaires, later in 1975 weigh
masters were finally given “limited” law enforcement authority and sent to the academy
for three weeks of training. Following that training they were authorized to enforce
state and federal laws as they related to weights and dimensions of commercial trucks,
permits, and other aspects related to all commercial vehicles. While they now had
limited law enforcement authority, their immediate supervisors were still troopers.

It was about 1987 when their titles changed again; this time from weigh master to
motor carrier inspector (MCI). Along with this came promotion opportunities. No
longer under the supervision of a trooper, a “working leader” was promoted from
the MCI’s at each district to supervise the other MCI’s assigned to that district.
Later the title of working leader was changed to “district coordinator.” Today there
are various other supervisory positions within the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement
Division (CVED) and more opportunity for advancement within the ranks of Motor Carrier
Inspectors.

Since 1953 when those first 22 weigh clerks were hired to assist troopers with the
enforcement of commercial vehicle laws, the division has grown into a very large
operation with even greater responsibility. Today the responsibility of CVED entails
far more than just enforcement of weights and dimensions of commercial trucks. CVED
is responsible for enforcing all state and federal regulations pertaining to commercial
motor vehicles operating in the state. It is also responsible for conducting and
managing Indiana’s school bus inspection program, safety audits of motor carriers,
and enforcing Indiana’s dyed fuel laws. To meet these additional responsibilities,
CVED is commanded by a major and today the division includes approximately 33 sworn
personnel, 90 Motor Carrier Inspectors, and four civilian support staff.

*NOTE-The source for portions of the above historical information: Gangsters, Gunfire,
and Political Intrigue: The History of the Indiana State Police by Marilyn Olsen.